Sanitary-cloth-towel machine.



U. E. ROHDB.

SANITARY CLOTH TOWEL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIl, 1911. LWQW? Patented Aug.19, 1913.

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SANITARY CLOTH TOWEL MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 1911. 1,070,737, Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

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APPLICATION FILED MAY 11I 1911.

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M gvwe m/coz Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

PATENT OFFICE.

ULRICH E. ROHDE, 0F nocn RAPIDS, IOWA.

SANITARY-GLOTH-TOWEL MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Batent.

Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

Application filed May 11, 1911. Serial No. 626,542.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ULRICH E. Ronon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rock Rapids, in the county of Lyon and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sanitary- Cloth-Towel Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for furnishing towels and the like; and an object of this invention is to provide a machine of this character which will be adapted and designed for either vending the towel as a commodity or for supplylng a towel for merely a single and immediate use.

Another object of this invention is to provide atowel-supplying machine which will be simple in construction, comparatively cheap 1n manufacture and most efiicient,

secure and reliable in use.

A third object of this invention is the provision ina' machine of this character of suitable carrier-devices by which the towels are moved to the delivery opening.v

A fourth feature of this invention is the provision in a machine of this character of mechanism for withdrawing the soiled towels from the delivery openingand disengaging the same from the feed-mechanism.

A further object of this invention is the provision in a machine of this character of mechanism for controlling the delivery opening from the feed mechanism. I

A sixth object of this invention is the provision in a machine of this character of mechanism by which tampering with the slide which covers the dellveryopening in an endeavor to open surreptitiously the same .will result in lockin the feed mechanism.

Other features 0 this invention will be set forth in the description and claims which hereinafter follow.

In the drawings illustrating the principle of this invention and the est mode now n w to me of app ying th pr p Figure 1 is a. front elevation of my new towel-supplying machine; Fig. 2 is a section on'theline AA of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail, sectional view showing the feed mechanism in the position assumed by it when at'owel is presented to the delivery opening; Fig. 4- 1s a section on the line BB of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a detail in central and t vertical section of a towel-holding clip; Fig, 6 is a detail showing in front elevation the carrier-part of the cl p shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the clasp part of' the clip shown in Fig, 5; Fig. -8 is a perspective view showing another form of clip; Fig. 9. is a pers ective view showin a towel-containing pac age, where the towe is to be 501d; Fi 10 is a detail showing the coin-controlle d mechanism in central vertical section, the operatin slide-rod actuated thereby; I ig. 11 IS a detail showin the slide-rod viewed in the direction of tie g rrow X of Fi 10; Fig. 12

. or feeding the towel is inclosed within a cabinet (1 the back of which is fastened to a suitable wall-support b and the front of which is formed with an o ening c which is controlled by a slide 0!. The upper end of a llow Pe es al 6 exten HP i the cabinet 4; and within this hollow pedestal is slidably fitted a plunger 1 the upper end of which carries a air of leaf-springs g. The free ends of t e latter are provided with mwardly-pro'ecting lugs h. Nearthe bottom of the wal support 5. there is fastened k t in whic is fulc um d the rear end of a pedal lever the outer free end of which is provided with a foot-rest k. This edal lever is formed with a slot j he pedestal e is formed with slots e and through these slots j, e extends a headed pin m, which passes also through the plunger 1''. The lower end of a coil spring a is fastened to the pedal lever 1', while its upper end isfastened to the bottom of the cabinet. By placin his footon the foot-rest In, the outer'end o the pedal lever j may be depressed by the operator a ainst the tension of the'coil spring a; an. this downward movement of the edal lever .y' will be transmitted throu h the pin m to the plunger f, whereby t e latter will be idly or loosely a grooved pulley 9 over which passes a wire cord 1', the upper end of which is fastened to the top of a slide-rod s mounted in the upper end of the pedestal e. The lower end of the slide rod 8 is reduced and is provided with shoulders t with which are adapted to engage or interlock the lugsjr, on the leaf-springs g. Rotatably mounted in suitable journal bearings u fastened to the sides of the cabinet are the ends of a transverse rock-shaft a fast upon which is mounted a grooved pulley 'w around which is wound and to which is fastened the other or lower end of the wire cord 7. Upon this same transverse shaft '0 there is fastened a feed-disk w. Within the cabinet there is mounted a hanger g the upper end of which is fastened to the top of the cabinet and in he lower end of which is pivoted the rear ends of the levers 2 the other or front ends of which are attached to the top of a U- shaped yoke or link 2 the lower or base end of which is pivotally fastened to the upper end of the slide d which controls the opening 0, through which access to the towcls is had. About midway of the levers 2 there are pivotally fastened thereto the upper ends of a pair of links 3 the lower curved ends of which are pivot-ally connected with the feed-disk m. To the latter is also fastened the lower end of a coil-spring 4 the upper end of which is fastened to the back of the cabinet. To the back of the cabinet there is also fastened a guide-bracket 5 in which is adjustably fitted the upper end of an inclined guide-bar 6 the lower end 6 of which partially encircles the feed-d1sk w and is provided with spring fingers 7 whlch lie on opposite sides of the feed-disk as. To the front wall of the cabinet and within the same there is fastened the upper end of an inclined bar 8 the lower end 8 of which is curved and partially encircles the feed-disk a The opposed lower ends 6', 8 of the bars 6, 8 closely approach each other and together substantially encircle the lower half of the feed-disk m. The fingers 7 he above and extend forwardly over the lower end 8 of the arm or bar 8. Extending laterally from th latter is a lug 9 and projecting from the periphery of the feed-disk a: is a stop 10. The lug 9 and stop 10 limit the rotation of the feed-disk as in one direction. Each towel 11 is provided with a clip or fastener 12 through the loop of which passes the uide bar 6, downwardly upon which the rip 12 slides by gravity. 1n the rim or peripheral face of the feeddisk w is formed a transverse groove m which is shaped to receive the horizontal top portion 12' of the' clip 12. If now the rock-shaft 'v be turned (as by pulling down the slide-rod a and the attached end of the wire-cord r), thereby rotating the feed-disk w against the tension of the spring 4, a clip 12 carrying a towel 11 will be carried toward the opening 0, the

oveys? top 12 of the clip traveling over the lower end 6 and the spring fingers 7 and the lower end 8 of the bar 8 which enters the loop of the clip. The same rotary motion of the feed-disk :0 will lower the arms 3 and will thereby pull down the levers a, which through the link 2 will force downwardly the slide d and permit access to be obtained to the towel presented at the opening a. When the coil spring 4 is allowed to contract, it will retract and rotate in the opposite direction the feed-disk w and the latter will now carry the clip 12 backwardly along the lower portion 8 of the curved bar 8. The horizontal portion 12 of the clip will pass under the forwardly-extending fingers 7, which will cause the disengagement of the clip'from the feed-disk. The towel will now fall by gravity into the chute 13 and down the inclined bottom of the same into the bottom of the cabinet. At the same time the link-arms 3 are forced upwardly and swing in the same direction the free front ends of the levers 2, which throu h the link-rod 2 pulls upwardly into its 0 osing position the'slide d.

In order to clutch the upper end of the plunger f to the lower end of the slide-rod 8,

the following mechanism is provided: Fastened at its inner end to the pedestal e is a casing 14 which extends forwardly from and outside of the front wall of the cabinet. The top of the casing 14 is formed with a keyhole-shaped slot 15 and with a pair of slots 16 through each of which upwardly projects a stud 17 formed upon the outer front end of a finger 18 pivoted on a pin 18. Between the inner ends of the fingers l8 lie the leaf-springs g which carry the lugs 71. Each finger 18 is further formed with an upwardly-extending lug 19 to which is attached one end of a contractile coilspring 20.

The operation of the machine herein described is preferably coin-controlled; and in order to make operative the towel-feeding mechanism through the medium of the pedal-lever j and the plunger f, a coin 21 is placed in the enlarged portion 15 of the keyholeshaped slot 15. Projecting upwardly through the narrow portion 15 of the latter is a stem 22 having at its upper end a finger-piece 23. To the stem 22 is attached a slide 24, which is recessed to receive a part of the coin'21. When the finger-piece is forced toward the front wall of the cabinet, the slide 24: pushesthe coin 21 in the same direction and the latter, acting asa cam, spreads the front or outer ends or jaws of the pivoted fingers 18 apart, whereby the inner ends or jaws of the latter are forced toward each other so as to press the leaf-springs 9 toward the lower end of the slide-rod s and thereby to carry the lugs 11 into interlocking relation with the shoulders t of the slide-rod. It is obvious that, if the pedal-lever j be swung downwardly by pressing upon the foot-rest is, the slide-rod s will now be pulled downwardly and the rock-shaft n will be turned, as hereinbefore described.

To release the coin 21 the following mechanism is provided: Pivoted on the studs 18 with the fingers 18 and underneath the same is a. pair of fingers 25 upon the front ends of which the coin 21 slides as it is pushed forward by the plate 24. Attached to the slide-rod s is a fork 26; and when the slide-rod s is pulled downwardly by the lunger f, as hereinbefore described, the fork 26 straddles and presses toward each other the inner ends of the pivoted fingers 25, thereby throwing from each other the outer ends of these fingers which are recessed and curved sufliciently to permit the penny or coin to drop between them, when they are thus thrown apart. When the fork 26 moves upwardly, as the slide-rod 8 resulnes its initial position, the contractile coil springs 20, and the leaf spring 27 restore the fingers 18, 25, respectively, to their initial position.

If the towel 11 is not to be sold but is .merely to be furnished for use, it may be formed with an eyelet 28 through which is passed the pointed or V-shaped end 12" of the wire clip 12, the towel being drawn or knotted between the sides forming the V- shaped end of the clip, as is clearly shown in Fig. 8. A different form of clip is shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 where the legs 29 of the clip 30 are connected by a plate 31 the upper edge 32 of which is serrated. Theedge of the towel is passed over this serrated edge 32 and a U-shaped clasp 33 is then passed over the edge of the towel, thereby fastening the same securely in the clip. Inspection of Figs. 5.and 6 will show that any pull upon the free or hanging part of the towel will result in engaging the towel all the more firmly with the clip.

When the towel is sold, it is placed, carefully folded, in a sealed bag 34 of paper or other suitable material, and the bag is fastened to a clip 30. The customer merely tears the paper bag from the clip and the latter is withdrawn within the cabinet by the return movement of the feed-disk :10.

When the link arms 3 are in the normal or raised position, as shown in Fig. 2 their curved lower ends lie or project forwardly beyond the axial line of the transverse shaft 0. When the slide (1 is in its closed position, it will be found impossible to open the slide d, except by operating the coin-controlled mechanism as heinbefore described; for, if it be attempted to force the slide cl downwardly into open position except through the medium of the feed-disk w and its connected mechanism in the normal manner, the

engagement of the stop 10 with the lug 9 towels which hang from the guide-bar 6.

The bottom of the chute will prevent access to the soiled towels, when the slide d is open.

I claim:

1.- A towel-delivering machine comprising i a casing formed with a suitable deliveryopening; guiding means for guiding the towel to said opening; and oscillating feedmechanism which first movesthe towel along said guiding means to said opening and then swings back to its initial position and withdraws the towel from the opening; said guidin means being formed with a towel-releasing device which disengages the towel from said feed-mechanism during the movement of the same from said opening to its initial position. I

2. A towel-delivering machine comprising a casing formed with a suitable deliveryopening; a guide-bar for guiding the towel to said opening; and oscillating feed-mechanism which first moves the towel along said guide-bar to said opening and then swings back to its initial position and withdraws the towel from the opening; said guide-barcasing formed with a suitable delivery-opening; guiding means for guiding the towel to said opening; a rock-shaft; a wheel-like oscillating towel-feed device mounted upon said rock-shaft; mechanism which rocks said shaft and oscillates said towel-feed device to move the towel first along said guiding means to said opening and then away from the latter as said.towel-feed device swings back to its initial position; said guiding means being formed with a towel releasing device which disengages the towel from said towel-feed device durin the movement of the same from said opening to its initial position.

4. A towel-delivering machine comprising a casing formed with a suitable deliveryopening; guiding means for guiding the towel to sald opening; oscillating feed mechanism which first moves the towel along said guiding means to said opening and then swings back to its initial position and withdraws the towel from the opening; said guiding means being formed with a towelreleasing device which disengages the towel from said feed-mechanism during the movement of the same from said opening to its initial position; and a shutter which controls said delivery-opening and which is op eratively connected with said -feed-mechanism; said shutter being moved to an open position by said feed-mechanism when the same moves toward said opening and being restored to closing position by said feedmechanism when the latter swings back to its initial position.

- 5. A machine of the character described having a casing formed with a delivery opening; clips to which the towels are fastened; guiding means for said clips; a feeddisk which engages said clips; mechanism for moving said feed-disk toward and from said opening to feed said clips; and means for disengaging the clips from said feed disk.

6. A machine of the character described having a casing formed with a delivery opening; clips to which the towels are fastened; guide-bars; a feed-disk which moves said clips along said guide-bars toward and from said opening; mechanism for rocking said feed-disk to feed said clips; and means for disengaging said clips from said feeddisk.

7. A machine of the character described having a casing formed with a delivery opening; clips to which the towels are fastened; guide-bars; a feed-disk for moving said clips toward and from said opening along said guide-bars; means for disengaging said clips from the latter and said feed disk; and means for controlling said opening.

8. A machine of the character described having a casing formed with a delivery opening; clips to which thetowels are fastened; guide-bars; a rock shaft; a feed-disk mounted upon said rock shaft and arranged to engage said clips and feed the same toward and from the said opening; means for rocking said rock shaft; and means for disengaging the clips from said feed-disk.

9. A machine of the character described having an operating mechanism provided with fin ers; carrier devices for holding the towels; teed mechanism for moving said carrier devices; and means for clutching the fingers of said operating mechanism to said feed mechanism.

10. A machine of the character described having an operating mechanism provided with fingers; carrier devices for holding the towels; feed mechanism for moving said carrier devices to feed the towels; and means for clutching and unclutching the fingers of said operating mechanism to and from said feed mechanism.

11. A machine of the character described having a casing formed with a delivery opening; an operating mechanism; carrier devices for holding the towels; mechanism for controlling said opening; mechanism for moving the lastnamed mechanism from closed to open position and from open to closed position and said carrier devices toward and from said opening; and means for clutching and unclutching said operating mechanism to and from said feed mechanism.

In testimony whereof -I hereunto set my hand at Rock Rapids, Iowa, this 8th day of May, A. D., 1911, in the presence of the two undersigned witnesses.

ULRICH E. ROHDE.

Witnesses J. W. Ramsay, G. E. TABER. 

